Sensory Differences in Autism

How were the DSM-4 diagnostic criteria for autism different from the DSM-5?

DSM-4: Triad of social interaction, communication & repetitive behaviour

DSM-5: Diad of social communication, repetitive behaviours, insistence of sameness and atypical sensory reactivity

What themes did Robertson & Simmons find in their study into personal experiences of sensory issues in autism?

Control over stimuli

Aspects of stimuli

How emotions are affected

Physical response

What is the most common behaviour in sensory problems of autistic people?

Hyperreactivity

Is there a correlation between sensory issues and autism?

Yes

Is there a difference between the adult and child autistic sensory profile?

Adults score higher on the Sensory Subscales

What are the four quadrants in sensory profile scoring?

Low registration

Sensation seeking

Sensory sensitivity

Sensation avoiding

Are there differences in basic sensory perception in autism?

Differences in sensory experiences are probably not rooted in fundamental differences in sensory organs

What are visuo-cognitive tasks' role in autism?

Underpinning theories of autistic cognition

What are the issues with the theories behind visuo-cognitive tasks and autism?

Too simplistic

What is the motion coherence threshold in autistic people?

Higher

What is the orientation discrimination threshold in autistic people?

Lower

What are the issues with questionnaires when assessing sensory issues?

Not nuanced enough to provide a very accurate measurement

What is monotropism?

Very focused attentional state

How do autistic people perform on a visual search task?

Better than atypical people on average

What did the EEG find with autistic people during a visual search?

Higher p3b amplitudes